Typewriting machine



16, c. w. HDOUBLER Ei- AL 2,099,262

TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed April 10, 1935 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFIE TYPEWRITING MACHINE Charles W. HDoubler and Georgel. Mills, Springfield, Mo.

cally to typewriting machines embodying novel and useful means for manipulating the carriage V supported platens thereof.

While typewriting machines now on the market have been developed to a high degree of typing efficiency the hand-thrusting method employed during typing operations to return the platen to the normal starting position preparatory to the beginning of each successive line of typing remains the same as that adopted at the inception of the art excepting in such machines as now'employ electrical means to accomplish that purpose. That this practice is crude is self evident and, moreoven the laterally applied energy exerted to return the platen carriage while the arm is extended is more wearing on the operator than is themanipulation of the operative keys which are conveniently positioned and require only a downwardly directed stroke to operate.

Another objection to the prior typewriting machines is that in such machines as are not electrically operated the operator must lose considerable time by removing the hand from the keyboard zoneto reach rearwardly while returning the platen for each line of typing.v

And still another and serious objection to prior typewriting machines depending on hand-thrusting means to return the carriage supported platen to the normal starting position is that said platen and its supporting carriage are, comparatively, heavy and are often swiped into the returned position with a vicious bang that is decidedly harmful to the more fragile parts controlling the action of said carriage during typing operations.

.It is therefore the object of the present inventionto overcome the objectionable feature in prior typewriting machines above related and 40 provide a typewriting machine having lever means conveniently positioned adjacent the keyboard whereby the operator -may easily and quickly draw the carriage supported platen, when required, into the normal line starting position by a downwardly directed pull on said lever.

Another object of the invention is to provide a typewriting machine having duplex lever actuated means by which the operator may readily move the platen to a desired position either to the right or left.

Still another objectof the invention is to provide a typewriting machine having duplex lever actuated means that will rotate the platen for line spacing purposes while drawing said platen to its normal line starting position.

1935', Serial No. 15,591 (01. 197-65) And still another object of the invention is to provide a typewriting machine having duplex lever means for positioning the platen at any desired point along its normal line of travel wherein said lever will be automatically reset as the typing proceeds for again returning said platen to its normal line starting position.

And yet another object of the invention is to provide a typewriting machine having lever means adjacent. the key-board whereby the platen may be rotated for line spacing purposes without otherwise changing theposition of the platen. With the above and other objects in View which will appear as'the description proceeds the invention residesin the novel construction and combination of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more specifically defined, by the appended claims, it being'understood that such changes inthe precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters designate the same or similar partsr.

Fig. l is a side elevation of a foldable typewriter resting on a fragmentary portion of an office desk and having portions of the enclosing, foldable frame broken away to reveal an inner supporting frame and the novel mechanism comprising the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a reduced plan view of the line spacing lever.

' Referring to the drawing the numeral 3 represents the outer frame'or case of a foldable typewriting'machine adapted to rest for use adjacent the edge of an office desktop or the like in a manner whereby the hinged key-board housing member of the frame may be dropped over the edge of said desk to lower the key-board to an operable position that is lower than said desk top as set forth in our recentPatents No. 1,966,- 697 July 17, 1934, and No. 1,987,230, January 8, 1935, which are closely associated with the present invention.

7 In this case however a short inner frame is provided to support the platen carriage and other typing mechanism incidental to typewriting machines in the usual manner and, together with the outer frame, support the inner ends of the several parts embodied in the present invention.

As usual the platen, with its extending knobs, is somewhat longerthan the width ofthe supporting innerframe 4 and as the enclosing frame 3 is wide enough to encompass said platen in its entirety, when closed, a suitable space between the two frames for housing the parts comprising this invention is thus provided. V

A duplex lever 5 together with an. auxiliary lever I pivoted thereon provide the actuating means by which the stated objects of the invention are accomplished.

A formed duplex lever 5, fulcrumed on a short shaft 6 supported by both the inner and outer frames of the machine, is provided at the resistance end thereof with cogs 5' formed along the arc of a circle of which the fulcrum shaft 6 is the center.

The auxiliary lever 'I having a circularly formed resistance end I is fulcrumed by a shouldered screw 8 threaded into the medial portion of the free end of the lever 5. The auxiliary lever 'I is provided with a curved slot 1 in its circular end I through which the fulcrum shaft 6 passes, and is disconnectedly retained as shown in the drawing by a small spring 9 secured to the arm of the lever 5 bya screw or rivet l and having a bearing against an edge of each lever to force the rear edge of the slot 1" to rest against said shaft 6.

The use of a drum together with the associated spring, ratchet and pawl means is too well known 7 to the art to herein require definement. In the present invention, however, the drum II is not flatly disposed, as in the usual practice, but vertical or erect-that is the side walls'thereof are at right angles to the horizontally extending shaft I2 supporting it and paralleling the side walls of the frame; and by this arrangement of the drum is the invention made possible, said drum carrying a pinion |.8 adapted for mesh ing with the cogged operating lever 5, and other means, to be later defined, for automatic line spacing purposes. V

A belt-like cord l9, of the usual gut type, is wound, at least once, completely around the drum II just described to give it a grip thereon and the upper end of said cord is then drawn over a pulley 29 pivoted on a lip 2| projecting as a part of the carriage track 2| and thence to the opposite end of said track and around another pulley 22 pivoted on another lip similar to the one first above mentioned and thence returns and is secured to a short arm 23 provided as a part of the front or right hand end of the platen carriage 23 by a knot I9.

The lower end portion of the cord l9 is'drawn over a third pulley 24, supported on another formed portion 2| of the carriage track 2| and the end thereof securedrto another short arm 23" formed as a part of the rear or left hand end of the carriage 23.

While the description defines a single cord for operating the carriage in opposite directions it is obvious that two separate cords, each having one end thereof secured to the drum in a suitable manner and wound on said drum in opposite directions would be the full equivalent thereto.

From the description thus far completed it is apparent that, as in the usual manner, the stress on the drum exerted by the spring within will impel said drum into intermittent rotary action co-actingwith the intermittent escapement release of the platen carriage associated with the key-action for letter spacing purposes (which is no part of this invention and not fullyshown as it is incidental to typing machines in general and too well known to need further mention here) and the upper portion of the cord will be wound onto said drum and thereby draw the platen carriage laterally to the left as typing operations continue, while the lower end portion of saidcord will be unwound in equal measure to follow said platen carriage to which it is attached.

Furthermore, while the drum is being inter a full line of typing has been consummated. And it is also obvious that if the levers be now de-.

pressed the action of cogs and pinion will be reversed and the drum turned in a clockwise direction and thus wind the lower end portion of the cord belt l9 around said drum to draw the platen carriage back to the normal line starting position, or any intermediary position selected a suitable stops 6? slidably supported in a channeled guideway 68 secured to the frame 3 being provided to check the carriage at a pre-chosen point of travel in either direction and furthermore, while the structure is ideal for a lever operated warning bell or gong, adjustably associated with said stops, it is, due to the conspicuous position of the levers, not deemed necessary.

While depressing 'said levers, however, the auxiliary lever I is thrown into its functioning engagement before the duplex lever 5, on which it is supported, responds to the applied pressure and the circular end portion I thereof will be forced rearwardly until the front or left hand edge of the slot I rests against the fulcrum shaft 6 of said lever and the-free or upper end thereof abuts an out-turned lip 5 provided on the duplex lever 5,'and by this action the circular end portion of the auxiliary lever I engages and raises the power receiving end of a short lever 25, fulcrumed on a shouldered screw 25' threaded into the inner side wall of the outer frame 3, to release thebefore mentioned platen carriage 23 in a manner hereinafter more specifically defined.

It is now obvious that,.due to the circular form of the resistance end of the lever I and its concentric position, relative to the fulcrum 6 of the lever 5 supporting it, said auxiliary lever I will maintain its engagement with the carriage releasing lever 25 as long as power is applied on the free end of said lever, regardless of the position of the duplex lever 5 supporting it, and the platen carriage will thereby remain released and free to be moved either to the right or left by simply lowering or raising said levers. V

The resistance end of the above mentioned lever 25 rests on the key-like end of a lever 26 protruding from within the inner frame 4 through a, small opening ,2? provided in the wall of the inner frame 4 and fulcrumed by a shouldered screw or rivet 28 set into the inner side of the frame 4. The lever 26 is provided with a vertically extending arm 26', hinged to the rear end thereof by a rivet 26", which functions with a laterally extending, horizontally disposed arm 29 of a support 29, carrying an escapement wheel 30, for lifting said wheel out of engagement with a rack bar 3i to release the platen carriage when pressure is appliednto the lever 25 as heretofore stated. 1

'The foregoing clearly defines the duplex lever 5, together with its auxiliary'lever 7 supported thereon, acting as a common means for controlling the lateralshifting:movements of the caringly holding said arm abutting a stud also riage and, as will presently bernade clear, the rotating action of .the platen. And ofspecial interest is the fact that said auxiliary lever functions to release the carriage from its detentbefore the lever 5 can function to move the carriage in either of two'directions; also that said det-ent will remain disengaged while the carriage ismoving in either of said directions and thus eliminate the clicking noise so common in prior typewriting machines while the .carriage is being returned and also reduces wear on the escapement mechanism. And it is also to be considered that the auxiliary lever l liberates the detent to resume deterrent engagement with the carriage before pressure will be entirely withdrawn from the actuating lever 5 and will thereby retain the carriage in any chosen position. after the pressure has been withdrawn from said lever 5.

A formed arm 32 is positioned on the front side of the drum H with the tail end thereof journaled on the drum shaft !2 immediately back of a washer 33 and is firmly secured in a predetermined position on said drum by a thumbscrew 34 threaded into the side of said drum by means of a threaded hole 34.

As the arm 32 is provided to support means for actuating an automatic line spacing device a number of similar threaded holes 34 are provided in the side of said drum and are equidistant from the center thereof that said arm may be readily adjusted to operate said spacing device at any desired stage of thesdruinsrevolution to regulate the timing of the spacing to suit requirements. 7

' The arm 32 is provided with a dog 35 adjust- .ably supported thereon by means of. a screw 36 threaded into said arm through an elongated slot 35' in said dog. The top edge of :the dog 35 is provided with twoor more rounded notches 35 engageable with-a stud 3.! set in said arm and is retained in predetermined engagement therewith by means of a small spring 38 secured to the arm by a screw 39 to provide yielding. re-

sistance against the under edge of said dog, and

by this arrangement the dog maybe quickly positioned to yield single or double, or even triple spacing by providing a third notch properly 1ocatedit being understood, of course, that the farther the end of said dog projects beyond the periphery of the drum the wider will be the resulting spaces.

A spacing lever comprising a formed arm 40, as shown in Fig. 2, is rigidly mounted on both ends'of a fulcruming shaft 4| by nuts 42, or other suitable means tostabilize the lever for the purpose hereinafter specified, said shaft being journally supported by the two side walls of the inner frame 4. I

The lever arm 40 is provided with a dog 43 pivoted adjacent the power receiving end thereof by a shouldered rivet or screw 44 with the under edge of said dog resting firmly on an upturned lip 40 provided as a part of said lever arm. The dog 43 is engageable with the beforementioned dog 35 carried by the drum H and is supported in a functioning position by means of a spring 45 secured to said lever arm 40 by a screw 45 in a manner to make yielding resistance against the top edge of said dog that the engaging dog 35 will readily pass in its reversed line of travel. And, furthermore, said arm itself is supported in a functioning position by means of a coil spring 46 attached thereto and supported by a screw or rivet 45 set in the frame 4 and thereby yieldset in the said frame 4:

The rear or resistance end of the lever arm 45, extending horizontally across the machine adjacent. the usual platen, is engageable with a lever 45 fulcrumed on the shaft 50' supporting the platen immediately back of the usual platen knob which has been deleted in the drawing to,

show mechanism pertinent to this invention.

The lever 4.9 is yieldingly supported in a functioning position abutting a stud 5| set in the platen carriage 23 by a coil spring 52 attached thereto and supported by a screw 53 also set in the platen carriage. The power receiving end of the lever 49. supports a pawl 54, pivoted thereon by a screw or rivet 55, that is engageable with a ratchet wheel 56 splined on the before mentioned platen shaft 50'. To, retain said pawl disengaged from said ratchet wheel when not functioning, that the platen travel may be reversed by means: of the platen knob, not shown, when required, a small spring 51, supported on said lever by a screw or rivet'58, makes yielding pressure against the rear side of said pawl to force it out of engagement and into a position of rest and to a degree corresponding with the adjustment of the dog 35carried by. the drum H as stated heretofore.

Theelongated, horizontally extending arm portion ill of the spacing lever is provided to insure line spacing irrespective of the location of the platen when the lever 5 is depressed and to accomplish this a lever, pawl and ratchet wheel arrangement, identical to that just above described, and depicted in the drawing, is mounted on the opposite end of the platen shaft and car- .riage in an identical manner to that on the front end as shown and. described.

To provide for line spacing when the platen is to be moved laterally but slightly, or not at all, an emergency lever 50 having a key-like operative end 59 adjacent the key board is fulcrumed on a common key-bar fulcrum 6! adjacent the rear inner end of the machine and supported in operative position along the wall of the inner frame 4 by a coil spring 62 secured thereto and to said wall by a screw 63.

The lever is provided with an upwardly extended arm 64 pivoted thereto bya rivet 65, said arm being formed with a slot 64 and slidably attached to the lever 40 heretofore described by.

a suitably headed rivet 66 set into said lever through said slot, and by this arrangement depressing the key end of said lever 60 will actuate the line spacing lever 40 at any time whereas by means of said slot 64 the said lever 45 may be operated without actuating said emergency lever 60. I

The dotted lines69 indicate a copy supporting table as set forth in the heretofore mentioned patentsmore specifically in No. 1,966,69'7--and while we have chosen to illustrate the present invention associated with the structure comprising those patents it is obvious that the features set forth herein are adapted for use with any of the well known typewriting machines with but slight modification in their structure.

Having shown and described the novel and use- 7 ful features of our invention what we 'claim is:

' tionary lever means always engageable with one or both of said duplicate turning means for turning said platen at any desired stage of the movements of said carriage.

2. In a typewriting machine or the like, in combination, a two-way movable carriage, means including a duplex lever for moving said carriage, a detent for restraining an advance movement of said carriage, a releasing lever for freeing said carriage from the restraint of said detent and an auxiliary lever adaptly pivoted on said duplex lever to engage said releasing lever for freeing and maintaining the freedom of the carriage during carriage manipulations by means of said duplex lever.

3. In a typewriting machine or the like, the combination of a movable carriage adapted for advancement and retraction, spring actuated means for automatically advancing the carriage, a detent to restrain the spring impelled advancement of said carriage, lever releasing means for freeing the carriage from said detent, means including a duplex operative lever for advancing and retracting said carriage and an auxiliary lever adaptly supported on said duplex lever for operative engagement with said lever releasing means to free the carriage from said detent.

4. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage adapted for advancement and retraction, spring actuated means for automatically advancing said carriage, a detent to restrain said spring induced advancement of the carriage, lever releasing means for disengaging the carriage from said detent, means including a duplex lever for retracting or advancing said carriage and common means adaptly supported on said duplex lever for operative engagement with said lever releasing means to disengage the carriage from said detent and maintain such disengagement While the carriage is being retracted or advanced by said duplex lever.

5. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a'tWo-way movable carriage carrying a turnable platen, duplicate turning means carried by said platen adjacent the two ends thereof, a laterally extending spacing lever ever engageable with one or both of said duplicate turning means, a spring actuated drum carrying a cord for advancing said carriage, means including a duplex lever for reversing the spring actuated travel of said drum to retract said carriage and a dog operably engageable with said spacing lever 'adjustably mounted on said drum for turning said platen at a predetermined'stage of the return travel of said carriage. V

6. In a typewriting machine or the like, in combination, a carriage adapted for advancement and retraction, spring actuated means including a drum for advancing said carriage, means including a'duplex lever for retracting and advancing said carriage, a turnable platen supporting turning means thereon carried by said carriage, a spacing'lever operably engageable with said turning means, a dog mounted on said drum for automatic engagement with said spacing lever for turning said platen as said carriage is being returned,'a detent to check the spring actuated advancement of said carriage, lever releasing means for disengaging the carriage from said detent and an auxiliary lever operably engageable with said releasing lever supported on said duplex lever.

7. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a reciprocal carriage supporting a turnable platen, a bail-like spacing lever, means for operating said 7 spacing lever and duplicateturning means supported on said platen in a manner whereby one or both of said turning means are always engageable by said spacing lever regardlessof the position of said carriage.

8; In a typewriting machine, in combination, a reciprocal carriage carrying a turnable platen, duplicate turning means supported by said platen, lever'means for operating said turning means, a springactuated drum carrying a cable for advancing the carriage, a detent for restraining the advancement of said carriage, a pinion supported on said drum, a geared duplex lever incmesh with said pinion for rotating said drum to return the carriage, an auxiliary lever supported on said duplex lever automatically engaging a lever to release the carriage from the detent before the carriage moves and a dog adjustably supported on one side of said drum for engagement with said lever means for automatically operating one or both of said duplicate turning means for turning said platen at any desired stage of the return movement of said carriage.

CHARLES W. HDOUBLER. GEORGE I. MILLS. 

